Chad VanGaalen Can't Win At Western Canadian Music Awards, Either

The Polaris Prize frenzy that's taken hold has made everyone forget about the Western Canadian Music Awards (WCMA) that took place this past weekend.

This means you probably had no idea such notable acts as The Waking Eyes (who won best independent album of the year for Holding On To Whatever It Is) and Grand Analog (who won best rap/hip-hop album of the year for Touch Your Toes) came away as victors.

Canadian music's biggest tragedy of the last weekend not that nobody paid attention to the Western Canadian Music Awards, but rather that despite being short listed for the Polaris Music Prize and picking up two WCMA nominations — songwriter of the year and rock record of the year — Chad VanGaalen went back to his Alberta basement empty-handed.

Poor VanGaalen was beaten by Theory Of A Deadman's Scars & Souvenirs for the rock record prize. Combine this with last night's Polaris loss to Fucked Up and it's no wonder dude writes so many songs about his own death.

The Western Canadian Music Awards also featured a festival that look place in Brandon, Man. last week, culminating with a conference and awards show on Sunday. Notable nominees this year included Hot Panda, Shout Out Out Out Out, Library Voices, Hey Ocean and The Pack A.D.

A list of complete winners can be found here.

Here are some of this year's notable winners:

Independent Album Of The Year: The Waking Eyes — Holding On To Whatever It Is
Instrumental Recording Of The Year: Steve Dawson — Telescope
Pop Recording Of The Year: Marianas Trench — Masterpiece Theatre
Rap/Hip-Hop Recording Of The Year: Grand Analog — Touch Your Toes
Rock Recording Of The Year: Theory Of A Deadman — Scars & Souvenirs
Roots Duo/Group Recording Of The Year: The Deep Dark Woods — Winter Hours
Roots Solo Recording Of The Year: Romi Mayes — Achin In Yer Bones
Songwriter Of The Year: Romi Mayes — Achin In Yer Bones
World Recording Of The Year: Delhi 2 Dublin — Delhi 2 Dublin
Independent Record Label Of The Year: Mint Records
Live Music Venue Of The Year: The Commodore Ballroom
Multi Media Award — Mitch Barany for The Summerlad's City Of Noise
Producer Of The Year: Steve Dawson